Amusement device



D. E. BACA AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 Dec. 22, 1959 5% Mi /mm INVENTOR. 2072mm ,5 Em

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Donaciano E. Baca, Papillion, Nehr.

Application November 5, 1957, Serial No. 694,645

1 Claim. (Cl. Z7386) The present invention pertains to amusement devices and more particularly to a racing game.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a racing game wherein the indicators in the race are unpredictably propelled by a non-apparent force and in which the parts are of a relatively simple construction and are easily assemblable so that the parts may be furnished as a kit.

Additional objects of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a game illustrating my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-'2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, the amusement device of the present invention comprises a rectangu ar base enclosure 11, which may be of plastic or any other suitable material, formed of four side walls 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, a base panel 11a, and a removable top panel 111. The top panel 11 is a plane surface which has painted thereon a race course and infield and other representations to lend reality to the device as a racing game, and has four elongated slots around its edges for the insertion of four vertical scenery panels 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, one along each edge of the plane surface. The scenery panels 13a through 13d are painted to represent grandstands or any other suitable scenery which will lend atmosphere to the game and serve a second purpose of holding the removable top panel 11 in position on the enclosure 11 by cooperating with the vertical sides 1112 through 11d. The scenery panels of 13a through 13d are passed through the slots in the top panel 11 and are positioned to extend a suitable distance above the surface 11 by any suitable means such as brackets 13g on the enclosure side walls.

A plurality of removable racing models 14 are supplied with the game to be placed on the race course. In the present illustration, the movable models are represented as race cars, but they could, of course, be race horses or men or any other movable models which would lend themselves to a race or pursuit in keeping with the character of the game. The movable models 14 are made of any suitable material or materials and have magnetically permeable material associated therewith so as to be attracted by magnets.

A small electric motor 16 is provided with a mounting bracket 17 for mounting the motor with its shaft 18 in the center of the enclosure 11 on a stationary base 19. The shaft 18 extends through the motor 1-6 and has its bottom extension rotatably anchored in a slot 21 molded into the base panel 11e. A turntable 22 is mounted on the upper extension of the shaft 18 for rotation thereby in response to operation of the motor 16.

The turntable 22 is formed of plastic in a circular shape and has a plurality of concentric grooves formed therein which are illustrated as being arcuate in cross-section United StatesPatentO 2 in the present illustration but which may. be ofany, regular configuration which will slidably support, magnets therein. Each of the grooves 23 has a magnet 24 slidably positioned therein, with the tops thereof being fiat so as to present as much surface as possible as close as possible to the bottom surface of the top panel 111.

Power for the electric motor 1-6 is supplied through a plurality of flashlight batteries 26 which are positioned in battery holders 27 formed in the closure 11 and are connected in series through a rheostat 29' with the motor by means of the lead wires 31. The speed of the motor is manually controlled by operation of a control knob 32 on the rheostat 29.

In operation of the game of the present invention, the racing models 14 are suitably placed on the race course provided by the plane surface of the upper panel 11f above the grooves 23 of the turntable 22. The permanent magnets 24 are slidably mounted in the grooves 23 so that rotation of the turntable 22 imparts a variable and unpredictable free motion thereto as the turntable revolves in response to the operation of the motor 16. As the magnets 24 move about their predetermined course within the annular grooves 23 beneath the upper panel 11 of the game, they move the racing models 14 along with them by virtue of the attraction of the permanent magnet with the magnetically permeable portion of the racing models 14. The speed of the turntable 22 is regulated by the speed of the motor which is in turn controlled by the rehostat through manipulation of the knob 32.

Due to variants in sliding characteristics and the momentum of the permanent magnets 24 in the grooves 23, the motivation of the racing models 14 by the magnets 24 in response to rotation of the turntable 22 will be variable and unpredictable. Since the connecting link between the motivating magnets 24 and the racing models 14 is due to the phenomena of the magnetic field passing through the panel 11 which entirely covers the above described operating mechanism, the cause of movement of the racing models 14 will be unapparent so as to stimulate interest and fascination in the operation of the game. The parts may be furnished as a kit and are therefore arranged to be easily assembled.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

An amusement device comprising: an enclosure having a bottom panel and a top panel, said top panel defining a racing surface; a plurality of racing models arranged for engagement with and movable on said top panel; a turntable positioned within the enclosure and having a plurality of concentric annular grooves; means for mounting and moving the turntable including, a base extending upwardly from said bottom panel, a motor mounted on said base with its drive shaft extending normal to the bottom panel and outwardly from the motor body at both of its ends, one end of said shaft supported on said bottom panel and the other end engageable with the turntable, and means for energizing the motor; and a plurality of magnets slidably positioned in said grooves whereby rotation of the turntable will cause each of the magnets to move the adjacent racing model magnetical 1y connected therewith, the magnets being free to slide in the grooves at ditferent rates of speed relative to each other to cause the same diflerent rates of speed in the models.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McNeill June'17',"1952 Haynes ct a1. Mar. 17, 1953 -Whit1ock- Oct. 25, 1955 Northrop Mar. 26, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain May 15, 1930 

